[john walker's workshop]

easier to play a decent electric. acoustics tear up your fingers. of course, he'll get calluses anyway, but it won't hurt as much in the process. get a US tele or strat, depending on hand size. lots of them on craigslist. you don't want to discourage him with a piece of crap beginner unit. i got a POS stella acoustic when i was a kid and it held me back for a few years.